FL S1548

Counties and municipalities must authorize multifamily and mixed-use residential development on property owned by a county, municipality, or school district, provided at least 40% of units are rental units affordable for at least 30 years and the owning entity is a party to the application.

Local governments are prohibited from restricting the height of qualifying affordable housing developments through indirect dimensional means such as setbacks or stepbacks, and may not impose setbacks or stepbacks more restrictive than the minimum requirements of the underlying zoning.

Farms and farm operations are explicitly excluded from the definitions of "commercial use" and "industrial use," preventing agricultural land from triggering the affordable housing multifamily development provisions.

Airport zoning restrictions that previously blocked qualifying affordable developments near runways, airport noise zones, or areas exceeding height limits may now be overridden if the governing body of the airport approves the application.

The bill expands anti-discrimination protections in land use and development permitting to prohibit discrimination based on affordable housing financing, broadens the definition of "person" to include governmental entities and agencies, and waives the state's sovereign immunity for housing discrimination claims under the amended provisions, effective July 1, 2026.